Testing Online Men’s Groups to Promote Psychological Well-Being and Reduce Despair During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract Suicide prevention is a healthcare and social justice priority. Older adults have the highest rates of suicide and the highest COVID-19 fatality rates in North America. The combined impacts of social isolation, fear of infection, apathy, and hopelessness could amplify suicide risk among older adults, as appears to have been the case during the 2003 SARS epidemic in Hong Kong. Innovative interventions are thus needed to promote social interaction and reduce risk for suicide in these challenging times. We are currently testing an online version of our Meaning-Centered Men’s Group (MCMG; Heisel et al., 2020), an upstream psychological intervention designed to promote psychological well-being and reduce suicide risk among men struggling with the transition to retirement, in the context of pandemic-related public health restrictions. This presentation will focus on adaptations to MCMG for online delivery, and share participant experiences and findings on positive and negative psychological outcomes.

active suicidal ideation in the past month were endorsed, respectively, by 20% and 9% of the sample. Results of hierarchical linear regression analyses examining the association between volunteering and suicidal ideation, controlling for covariates, will be discussed.

RETIREMENT AND SUICIDAL BEHAVIOURS: A REVIEW OF THE INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE
Leigh Wilson, 1 and Kylie Crnek-Georgeson, 2 , 1. The University of Sydney,Camperdown,New South Wales,Australia,2. The University of Sydney,Camperdown/ Darlington,New South Wales,Australia This scoping review maps published literature on retirement patterns and the effect retirement has on individuals. Recommendations are provided for future research, including changes to retirement policies, to decrease the prevalence of suicidal behaviours for older adults. A literature search (2014 -2020) was conducted in Medline, PubMed, Cinahl and Scopus, using the terms retirement, transition, redundancy, and pathways. A rapid review of global literature was undertaken, identifying 204 articles, with 27 papers chosen for full review. Search terms included retirement, transition, redundancy and pathways to retirement. Themes arising from the data were experience of retirement, planning, health (physical and psychological), and levels of social participation. This review provides information for policy makers, health workers and employers to assist individuals with retirement, emphasising the need to maintain competency in a complex set of skills to improve health literacy and decrease psychological stress/ suicidal behaviours in older adults. Suicide prevention is a healthcare and social justice priority. Older adults have the highest rates of suicide and the highest COVID-19 fatality rates in North America. The combined impacts of social isolation, fear of infection, apathy, and hopelessness could amplify suicide risk among older adults, as appears to have been the case during the 2003 SARS epidemic in Hong Kong. Innovative interventions are thus needed to promote social interaction and reduce risk for suicide in these challenging times. We are currently testing an online version of our Meaning-Centered Men's Group (MCMG; Heisel et al., 2020), an upstream psychological intervention designed to promote psychological well-being and reduce suicide risk among men struggling with the transition to retirement, in the context of pandemic-related public health restrictions. This presentation will focus on adaptations to MCMG for online delivery, and share participant experiences and findings on positive and negative psychological outcomes.

DISRUPTION TO SUBSTANCE AND OPIOID USE DISORDER: THE DEEP SOUTH SUBSTANCE AND OPIOID USE RURAL TRAINING GRANT
Chair: Rebecca Allen Co-Chair: Lindsey Jacobs Discussant: Bruce Rybarczyk The primary objective of this symposium is to describe our integrated, interprofessional behavioral health training program in substance use and opioid use disorders (SUD/ OUD) across the adult lifespan (19 to 80) within our clinical psychology graduate program in the Deep South. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our assessment, treatment, and prevention delivery has occurred via telehealth. The first paper describes our Clinical Training Model in two federally qualified health centers (one peri-urban and one rural) and one residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation program. Graduate and undergraduate students provide prevention, assessment, and treatment with an emphasis on 1) mindfulness-based relapse prevention, 2) literacyadapted treatment for chronic pain, and 3) trauma and recovery. The second paper describes the participant population. Specifically, participants (N = 105) receiving prevention, assessment and treatment services report high levels of substance and opioid use and are underserved, impoverished, and have low levels of education and health/mental health literacy. The third paper explores the relation of age, adverse childhood experiences, and PTSD symptoms within the context of substantial or severe SUD/OUD. The final paper describes issues surrounding telehealth delivery in the rural south with underserved populations. The discussant, an expert in integrated, interprofessional telehealth delivery across the adult lifespan, will provide insight on program sustainability and dissemination. Given the pronounced need for SUD/OUD treatment in underserved populations with attention to the intersection of age and urban/rural residence, this project is poised to make a substantive impact across the adult lifespan.

INTEGRATING PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES INTO COMMUNITY-BASED CLINICS Lindsey Jacobs, The University of Alabama, The University of Alabama, Alabama, United States
In Alabama, where mental health stigma is a critical barrier to care, integrated behavioral health services are vital to address the mental health needs that underlie substance use disorder (SUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD). Since October 2019, our team has developed partnerships with one rural and two peri-urban primary care clinics to offer behavioral health services with an emphasis on SUD/ OUD prevention, screening, and treatment. The patient populations receiving services at these three facilities are under-resourced with multiple disadvantages placing them at risk for morbidity, mortality, SUD/OUD, and poor behavioral and mental health outcomes. Behavioral health services have been delivered primarily via telehealth due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This presentation will describe the process, current status, and future goals for implementing integrated behavioral health care, with a focus on identifying the barriers and facilitators during the COVID-19 pandemic era.

CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR PATIENT POPULATION Kyrsten Hill, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
To date, 106 patients have completed behavioral health assessments across three sites: a rural primary care clinic (n = 32), urban federally qualified health center (n = 33), and state-certified residential rehabilitation facility (n = 41). Patients ranged from 18 to 65 years of age (M = 38.6, SD = 11.4). Approximately 51% were female and 75% were non-Hispanic White (followed by 22% African American). Over 60% had a high school degree or less and found it at least somewhat difficult to pay for basic needs. Most patients endorsed substantial (44%) or severe (39%) drug use, with 40% endorsing opioid use. There were no significant differences in substance use by age group. Moderate to severe symptoms of depression (43%) and anxiety (49%) were common. Approximately 70% endorsed adverse childhood experiences, and 44% reported clinically significant post-traumatic stress symptoms. Measures of cognitive functioning and objective health literacy are currently being collected.